Cycling: Bauer enjoys gruelling 24 hours

Kiwi Jack Bauer was the top performer for the Lothians-based Endura Racing Team when cycling's Tour of Britain reached the halfway stage in Teignmouth, Devon.

Bauer produced a gutsy effort on another testing day for the riders, bagging fourth place on the 106-mile stage from Minehead, five seconds down on Dutchman Wout Poels, who powered clear on the final climb to take the win.

Swiss rider Michael Albasini (HTC-Columbia) retained the leader's yellow jersey when the race resumed today with the 110-mile haul from Tavistock to Glastonbury.

Bauer, the New Zealand road race champion, who will compete at next month's Commonwealth Games, featured in the breakaway on the opening day and also performed well on stage three. However, he had lost too much ground the previous day.

"It was a real pity to miss the break on day two when I ruined my overall chances but I am enjoying it," he said, before reflecting on the day's efforts, adding: "It wasn't the hardest stage in the race for me.

"It was steady sitting in the wheels and the climbs, too, were nice and steady."

Endura's Rob Partridge edged up two places overall to lie eighth - the leading British rider.